greektzon
04-06-2008, 08:05 PM
http://www.ejpress.org/article/25947
NEW YORK (EJP)---A leading US Jewish group said a statement by the Vatican reassuring Jews of the church’s commitment to a positive relationship with the Jewish people is “a welcome step.”
But it added that the statement “does not go far enough to allay concerns” about the introduction of a Latin prayer calling for the conversion of Jews.
The New York-based organization, which is fighting anti-Semitism in the world, echoed earlier comments from Jewish leaders, who last month criticized the pope for his refusal to abolish the prayer in the Latin mass on Good Friday, the day that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
"On this issue the Vatican has taken two steps forward and three steps backward," Abraham Foxman, ADL’s national director, said in a statement.
In advance of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States later this month, the Vatican issued last Friday a statement reaffirming the fundamental principles of Nostra Aetate, the landmark Second Vatican Council document that repudiates the concept of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Jesus.
It also said the re-introduction of the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal "in no way intends to indicate a change in the Catholic Church’s regard for the Jews which has evolved from the basis of the Second Vatican Council."
In its statement, the Holy See also stressed the "unique bond with which the people of the New Testament is spiritually linked with the stock of Abraham and rejects every attitude of contempt or discrimination against Jews. It said it firmly repudiated "any kind of anti-Semitism."
"It is reassuring that the Catholic Church remains committed to the ideals of Nostra Aetate and to an approach toward relations with the Jewish people based on cordiality and mutual respect, " Foxman said.
He added: “Yet it is troubling that the statement still does not specifically say that the Catholic Church is opposed to proselytizing Jews. While they say it does not change Nostra Aetate, the statement does not go far enough to allay concerns about how the message of this prayer will be understood by the people in the pews."
"The Latin prayer is still out there, and stands by itself, and unless this statement will be read along with the prayer, it will not repair or mitigate the impact of the words of the prayer itself, with its call for Jews to recognize Jesus as the savior of all men and its hope that ‘all Israel will be saved.’”
“The impact of those words is undeniable, and we wish the Vatican had explicitly rejected calls to conversion or to proselytizing Jews,” the ADL said.
The "Prayer for Jews" was dropped in the 1960s, but reappeared last year after Pope Benedict XVI restored the Latin Rite mass. It was toned down but retains the call for Jews to be converted.
During his US trip, the pope is scheduled to visit a New York synagogue and meet US Jewish leaders.
NEW YORK (EJP)---A leading US Jewish group said a statement by the Vatican reassuring Jews of the church’s commitment to a positive relationship with the Jewish people is “a welcome step.”
But it added that the statement “does not go far enough to allay concerns” about the introduction of a Latin prayer calling for the conversion of Jews.
The New York-based organization, which is fighting anti-Semitism in the world, echoed earlier comments from Jewish leaders, who last month criticized the pope for his refusal to abolish the prayer in the Latin mass on Good Friday, the day that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
"On this issue the Vatican has taken two steps forward and three steps backward," Abraham Foxman, ADL’s national director, said in a statement.
In advance of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States later this month, the Vatican issued last Friday a statement reaffirming the fundamental principles of Nostra Aetate, the landmark Second Vatican Council document that repudiates the concept of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Jesus.
It also said the re-introduction of the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal "in no way intends to indicate a change in the Catholic Church’s regard for the Jews which has evolved from the basis of the Second Vatican Council."
In its statement, the Holy See also stressed the "unique bond with which the people of the New Testament is spiritually linked with the stock of Abraham and rejects every attitude of contempt or discrimination against Jews. It said it firmly repudiated "any kind of anti-Semitism."
"It is reassuring that the Catholic Church remains committed to the ideals of Nostra Aetate and to an approach toward relations with the Jewish people based on cordiality and mutual respect, " Foxman said.
He added: “Yet it is troubling that the statement still does not specifically say that the Catholic Church is opposed to proselytizing Jews. While they say it does not change Nostra Aetate, the statement does not go far enough to allay concerns about how the message of this prayer will be understood by the people in the pews."
"The Latin prayer is still out there, and stands by itself, and unless this statement will be read along with the prayer, it will not repair or mitigate the impact of the words of the prayer itself, with its call for Jews to recognize Jesus as the savior of all men and its hope that ‘all Israel will be saved.’”
“The impact of those words is undeniable, and we wish the Vatican had explicitly rejected calls to conversion or to proselytizing Jews,” the ADL said.
The "Prayer for Jews" was dropped in the 1960s, but reappeared last year after Pope Benedict XVI restored the Latin Rite mass. It was toned down but retains the call for Jews to be converted.
During his US trip, the pope is scheduled to visit a New York synagogue and meet US Jewish leaders.